Nothing to sneeze at: Prep for new allergy testing LCD finalized by 5 MACs
By: Julia Kyles, CPC
Practices that perform allergy testing take note: A uniform allergy diagnostic testing policy for Medicare Part B patients will go into effect in 38 states as soon as Sept. 27. Practices should use the notice period to prepare because the new rules will apply to any services performed on or after the effective date, including the initial encounter, even if the appointment was scheduled months earlier.
Visas in target: $100K fee for H-1B docs returns as proposed rule
By: Roy Edroso
Hot on the heels of a proposed overhaul of the J-1 program, under which many foreign-born doctors employed in the U.S. would face new challenges, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a rule that would add a $103,265 fee to a similar program.
Develop early-game policies to enable patient access to medical records
By: Dom Nicastro
Every request for medical records tests an organization’s ability to coordinate people, processes and technology. Remember that success depends not only on understanding HIPAA’s Right of Access requirements, but also on building workflows that consistently deliver timely, complete responses.
Part B News Features
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Question: How does documentation specificity affect diabetes code assignment?... More
NPP Report
Recent changes mandated by Congress and CMS that boost the status of physician assistants (PA) — or physician associates, as some groups prefer — is another sign that the providers formerl... More
Benchmark of the Week
Patients were almost three times more likely to receive a telehealth service at home than in another location in 2025. But Part B News analysis of data for Part B claims performed in places of service... More
Ask a Part B News Expert
Question: How does documentation specificity affect diabetes code assignment?... More
NPP Report
Recent changes mandated by Congress and CMS that boost the status of physician assistants (PA) — or physician associates, as some groups prefer — is another sign that the providers formerl... More
Benchmark of the Week
Patients were almost three times more likely to receive a telehealth service at home than in another location in 2025. But Part B News analysis of data for Part B claims performed in places of service... More
choose your feature view ► Ask Part B News & NPP Report Benchmark of the Week & Ask Part B News NPP Report & Benchmark of the Week
Part B News Blog
Sep 2, 2026
Commenters target 'disastrous' modifier 25 proposal that would slash fees by 50%
by: Richard Scott
Aug 31, 2026
Q&A: Overcoming ortho coding pain points
by: Laura Evans, CPC
Aug 14, 2026
How to comment on the proposed 2027 Medicare physician fee schedule
by: Julia Kyles, CPC
Tools
Update to the list of designated health services – 2026
Find the latest list of designated health services (DHS) that are subject to the Stark physician self-referral rule’s restriction on referrals. The new list went into effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Current and new descriptors for 21 CPT codes – 2026
Get a head start on revisions to codes in the E/M, cardiovascular, radiology and medicine chapters of the 2026 CPT Manual. The following chart contains the current and revised long descriptors for codes that CMS released in the proposed 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule and intends to assign an active (A) payment status
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Benchmark of the Week
Latest claims data shows clear preference for telehealth at home
Patients were almost three times more likely to receive a telehealth service at home than in another location in 2025. But Part B News analysis of data for Part B claims performed in places of service 02 (Telehealth provided other than in patient’s home), with 5.9 million claims, and 10 (Telehealth provided in patient’s home), with 17.3 million claims, revealed denial rates that almost match: 14% and 15%, respectively.
Maps show spread of independent practice for NPs, PAs
While the growth in numbers and earning power of nurse practitioners (NP) and physician associates (PA) is impressive, perhaps their most important advance is in state laws allowing them to practice with limited and even no physician oversight (see related story, p 3).
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